Thermal barrier for skylights



July 7, 1964 M. WASSERMAN THERMAL BARRIER FOR SKYLIGHTS Filed May 11, 1959 INVENTOR. W

ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,139,702 THERMAL BARRIER FOR SKYLIGHTS Max Wasserman, Newton, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Cyanamid Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maine Filed May '11, 1959, Ser. No. 812,213 Claims. (Cl. 50-116) The present invention relates to a skylight construction and more particularly to a means for preventing condensation on certain interior portions of a skylight construction.

Skylight constructions of current manufacture, usually include a supporting frame upon which the skylight dome rests. The inner edge of the supporting frame is normally formed with an upwardly flared flange. This flange functions as a condensation gutter to prevent water condensing on the interior of the skylight from flowing downwardly into the skylight well where it may damage the ceiling or interior of the room in which the skylight is located.

Heretofore no provisions have been made to prevent condensation on the inner surfaces of the flange itself. These upwardly flared flanges are an integral portion of the metal supporting frame which normally extends outwardly beyond the dome. Since metal has a high degree of heat transmission, the upwardly flared flange usually has a temperature substantially the same as the portions of the supporting frame which are beyond the dome and which are therefore exposed to the outside weather. Since the ambient temperature about the flange is close to room temperature, there is often a great deal of condensation on the inner surface of the flange. This condensation gathers, and runs down the inside of the skylight well and may damage the room interior. Such condensation may offset the effectiveness of the flange as a condensation gutter.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an effective means by which condensation on the inner surfaces of the upwardly extending flange is prevented. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a construction which may be formed and installed in a simple and eflicient manner. A further object of the present invention is to provide a construction which may be used as an integral part of a standard skylight supporting frame.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in fragmentary cross section; and

FIGS. 25 show modifications of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a supporting frame 1 of the general type shown in my United States Patents 2,610,593, and 2,693,156.

This frame is adapted to rest upon a supporting curb 2. The curb 2 forms a continuous enclosing wall about a skylight opening. conventionally, the curb forms a rectangular or circular enclosure. The retaining frame 1 is normally continuous and provides in cross section a transverse section 3 having integrally formed therewith, a downwardly extending flange 4 and an upwardly flared inner flange 6 respectively, at the outer and inner edges of the transverse section 3. The transverse section 3 may be provided with integrally formed bosses or ridges 7 adapted to incline the upper surface 8 of the transverse section 3 so that water will flow outwardly of the curb 2. The enlargement 9 at the corner is also provided to receive a series of successive threaded holes 10. These holes receive screws which in turn secure a retaining frame in 3,139,702 Patented July 7, 1964 place. The supporting frame 1 is made of metal, usually aluminum extrusions. The heat conductivity of these supporting frames is ordinarily high. For this reason the upwardly flared flange usually has about the same temperature as the downwardly extending flange 4. When the outside temperature is low, relative to the temperature of the atmosphere adjacent to the flange 6, there is often substantial condensation on the inner surface of the flange 6. This condensation gathers in rivulets and runs down the inner surface 11 of the curb 2, dripping onto the floors or walls of the room over which the skylight is secured.

In order to minimize condensation on the inner surface 12 of the flange 6 a condensation barrier generally illustrated at 14 is provided. This condensation barrier 14 forms a continuation of the supporting frame 1. This barrier 14 is formed of a continuous extrusion of a low heat conductive material such as vinyl plastic, rubber or similar heat insulating material. The barrier is 1ongitudinally coextensive with the supporting frame 1 and preferably isolates the entire inner surface 12 of the upwardly flared flange from the ambient atmosphere of the room. This barrier 14 has an inverted U-shaped section with outer leg 15, the inner leg 16 and bight section 17. The outer leg 15 rests in face to face relation with the outer surface of flange 6. Eight section 17 extends over the upper edge of flange 6, and leg 16 extends parallel to and on the inner side of flange 6. Leg 16 projects downwardly below the lower end of flange 6 and preferably overlaps the upper portions of inner wall 11 of the curbing 2 in an area indicated at 18. Leg 16 is spaced from the inner surface 12 of flange 6. A pair of ridges 19 formed on the outer surface of the leg 16, space leg 16 from flange 6. These ridges. 19 also help to securely grip the barrier 14 to the upwardly flared flange 6. By spacing leg 16 from the flange 6, the outer surface 21 of the leg 16 is partially insulated from the inner surface 12 of the flange 6. Thus, direct conduction of heat through the insulating leg 16 may be maintained. The leg 16 may be secured in its lower portion to the curbing 2 by nails or the like 18. In this manner the condensation barrier acts also as a securing means for the supporting frame 1.

In FIG. 2 and in the other modifications of FIGS. 3-5, like numerals refer to corresponding elements as those shown in FIG. 1. The condensation barrier illustrated in FIG. 2 is formed with an inwardly extending ledge 30 integrally formed with the inner leg 16. The ledge 30 supports the peripheral rim of an inner dome when a double dome skylight arrangement such as shown in United States Patent No. 2,693,156 is used. This ledge 30 eliminates the possibility of condensation forming on the inner portions of a double dome skylight construction.

In the modification of FIG. 3, there is provided a base curbing 40 upon which sits the supporting frame 1. The condensation barrier 41 is formed of an inner leg 42, outer leg 43, bight section 44, and flange 45. The upper edges of legs 42 and 43 are continuous with oppossite side edges of the bight section 44. Flange 45 is continuous with the lower edge of leg 43. Leg 43 is adjacent to the inner surface 12 of flange 6. Outer leg 42 is adjacent to the outer surface of flange 6. Flange 45 rests on the upper surface 46 of the curb. Attaching screws or the like may be passed through the flange 45 to the curbing 40. In this modification the legs 42 and 43 are in facing relation with the surfaces of the flange 6. This is an alternative to the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

The modification of FIG. 5 is basically similar to that shown in FIG. 3 with the exception that ridges 3 19 are provided on the outer surface of leg 43 to space the leg 43 from the flange 6.

In FIG. 4 the supporting frame 50 is formed with an inwardly extending transverse section 51 and a downwardly extending flange 4. The transversely extending section 51 is. reversely bent as illustrated at 52 forming a continuously extruded hook section having a recess facing outwardly. This hook section is adapted to engage a complementary hook section 53 formed in the condensation barrier 54. The condensation barrier 54 which is formed of low heat conductive material, is provided with a transverse section 55 continuous with the hook section 53. This transverse section 55 terminates in an upwardly flared flange 56 and a downwardly flared portion 57-, with upwardly flared flange 56 and portion 57 continuous with one another. Flange 56 acts as a condensation gutter while the portion 57 provides means by which the composite unit .comprising the condensation barrier 54 and supporting frame 50 may be secured to the curbing 58.

What is claimed is:

1; A condensation barrier adapted for use in a skylight construction, said condensation barrier having a skylight supporting frame providing a continuous upwardly extending metal flange on the inner edge of said frame forming a condensation gutter comprising, a continuous extrusion of low heat conductive material, providing an inverted U-shaped portion with one leg on the inner and one leg on the outer surface of said flange, said inner leg extending over the entire inner surface of said flange, and means spacing the outer surface of said inner leg from the inner surface of said flange.

2. A condensation barrier as set forth in claim 1, where in said inner leg extends downwardly below said flange and is adapted to be secured to the inner wall of a skylightcurbing.

3. A condensation barrier as set forth in claim 2, having an inwardly extending ledge integral with and intermediate the ends of said inner leg and adapted to support the periphery of a dome.

4. A condensation barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner leg terminates at its lower edge in an inwardly extending flange with said inwardly extending flange adapted to be secured to the top of a skylight curbing.

5. In a skylight construction comprising in combination a thermal barrier and a skylight enclosure including a curb which forms a continuous rim therearound, said thermal barrier comprising an outer supporting frame, an inner condensation barrier, and connecting means attaching the two together, the outer frame being of metal and extending around the outer periphery of said curb and having an inwardly extending transverse section resting thereon, and the condensation barrier extending into the interior of the skylight enclosure and being formed of low heat conductive material, said barrier having an upwardly flared flange extending completely around and within the enclosure and functioning as a condensate gutter and a continuous transverse web extending outwardly a substantial distance from said flange and being joined to the inwardly extendingtransverse section of the outer frame by said connecting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 228,282 Smith June 1, 1880 468,484 Sagendorph Feb. 9, 1892 731,138 Stearns June 16, 1903 1,647,382 Thompson Nov. 1, 1927 2,258,724 Wagner et a1. Oct. 14, 1941 2,318,857 Hollaender May 11, 1943 2,354,485 Slaughter July 25, 1944 2,410,922 Balduf Nov. 12, 1946 2,610,593 Wasserman Sept. 16, 1952 2,693,156 Wasserman Nov. 2, 1954 2,703,060 Kiefer Mar. 1, 1955 2,734,238 Clapp Feb. 14, 1956 2,790,400 Wasserman Apr. 30, 1957 2,793,406 Focht May 28, 1957 2,842,073 Huston July 8, 1958 2,874,653 Ratner Feb. 24, 1959 2,917,788 Kunkel Dec. 22, 1959 3,001,333 Piana Sept. 26, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES Architectural Forum, page 124, October 1947. American Roofer Magazine, December 1956, p. 24. 

1. A CONDENSATION BARRIER ADAPTED FOR USE IN A SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION, SAID CONDENSATION BARRIER HAVING A SKYLIGHT SUPPORTING FRAME PROVIDING A CONTINUOUS UPWARDLY EXTENDING METAL FLANGE ON THE INNER EDGE OF SAID FRAME FORMING A CONDENSATION GUTTER COMPRISING, A CONTINUOUS EXTRUSION OF LOW HEAT CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, PROVIDING AN INVERTED U-SHAPED PORTION WITH ONE LEG ON THE INNER AND ONE LEG ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID FLANGE, SAID INNER LEG EXTENDING OVER THE ENTIRE INNER SURFACE OF SAID FLANGE, AND MEANS SPACING THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID INNER LEG FROM THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID FLANGE. 